Puzzle-bank



No. 6l5,38l. Patented Dec. 6, I898. A. E. BRUCKETT.

PUZZLE BANK.

(Application filed Aug. 6, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. V

ATWATER E. BROCKETT, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES M. MARTIN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PUZZLE-BANK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,381, dated December 6, 1898.

Application filed August 6, 1898. Serial No. 687,923. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ATWATERE. BRocKETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Puzzle-Bank, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention is in the line of toy banks made cylindrical in form, of a diameter appropriate to a certain coin, and adapted not to be too readily opened; and what I have undertaken to accomplish is to construct such a toy bank as can only be opened after the tentative solution of a puzzle of that kind known as a maze.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of my complete puzzle-bank nearly closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the bank proper, showing the puzzle part thereof. Fig. 3 is a side view of the cover of the bank. Figs. 4and 5 are cross-sections of the bank, showing the puzzle or maze portion made in two different ways.

The bank proper, A, is, as illustrated, made tubular in form, with both ends closed, but with the head a thereof larger in diameter than the remainder of the bank. The coins are designed to be inserted into this bank through the slot at, the distance of which from the closed end of the bank fully precludes shaking any coins out through the slot at which they were inserted. The opposite end of the bank-body is also preferably closed, although this is not essential, the cover C serving by means of its closed end to prevent the escape of any coins from the bank until said cover has been removed. When said bank-body is made with both ends solid, a slot a must be provided for the removal of the coins contained therein, these coins being removed one by one after the cover has'been withdrawn.

The cover C fits snugly upon the body of the bank A, but of course not so tightly as to 2, I form a series of grooves b, with numerous branches and turns, but with only one outlet I). Said grooves may be cut entirely through the shell of the bank-body, as indicated in Fig. 4, or they may be simply depressions therein, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The latter method is the more economical, but it necessitates the inner diameter of the bank being made slightly larger inorder to permit the free passage of the designated coins.

Projecting for a slight distance inward from the cover C is a pin or lug cl, adapted to move freely in said groovesb and to prevent the removal of said cover from the bank until said pin has been brought to the outlet portion I) of the grooves. Hence a coin having been dropped into the bank and promised to the individual Who can open the latter, the cover will be pushed, pulled, and turned by said individual until after an immense number of trials the pin d has finally been caused to traverse the proper portions of the intricate grooves and brought to the outlet b and the cover withdrawn. Inasmuch, however, as the maze cannot be seen and the puzzled operator must proceed entirely in the dark the probabilities are entirely against his readily opening and breaking the bank. In returning the cover to the bank, the maze having been closely scrutinized, the operation becomes less difficult; so, too, after one has become more familiar with the maze it is far less hard to remove the cover.

What I claim as my invention,and for which I I desire to secure Letters Patent, is as follows, to Wit:

1. In a toy bank, the combination of the cylindrical body having the slot for the insertion of the coins and the opening at its opposite end for their removal, and the tubular cover loosely fitting upon said body and adapted to prevent the removal therefrom of its contained coins when said cover is in place, said body being formed with the groove, 12, having numerous branches and turns but only prevent it from easily sliding and turning thereon as moved by any child.

In the body of the bank, as shown in Fig.

one outlet, and said cover being provided with a projection entering said maze-groove, b,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a toy bank, the cylindrical bank-body vention I have hereunto set my hand this 15th having the enlarged head, a, slots, at, a, and day of June, A. D. 1898.

the mazerooves b, in combination with the 1 1 tubular eo i er fitting said bank-body and hav- Ari WATER BROOKETI 5 in g the pin, d, adapted to en gage said grooves, Witnesses:

for the purpose set forth. CHARLES M. MARTIN,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing in- A. B. UPHAM. 

